And now to the quarterback situation, particularly with Tyler Lorenzen's start against the Orange.

I've said my peace on this and it appears to be the end of he deception because Lorenzen is good to go. Some of you have said your peace, too, disagreeing with where I'm coming from. That's fine. With all due respect, most of you are not beat reporters. I don't expect you to understand everything but just let me say there are an awful lot of restrictions placed on us, including the one I hate most of all, access to the players only once a week - especially when you're unable to get a guy on that lone day for some reason or another.

When we abide by restrictions, such as not contacting players in the room and so on and then having to go through this too, it's a bit too much folks. It really is. Your fans, though. You don't care what he does or says as long as you get a W out of it.

Listen, I feel you. But I'm not a fan. I am a fan, I admit, of the team that go blown out of its building by your Huskies. Enough of that.

I wanted to share this part of the postgame with you - it was about the Lorenzen situation. First, Edsall was asked about presence being a big factor:

"No question, you know from the time that we...and again guys, to the Connecticut media, I guess I can apologize but I'm not going to apologize because there's certain strategical situations that go through with the quarterback situation. I knew when he was going to play but I didn't want it out there because he means so much to us and I think when you play Tyler, your game plan changes a little bit than if we're playing Zach [Frazer] or Cody [Endres] so, again, sorry, but it's a competitive game and we're judged on wins and losses. I'm not going to give up anything from a competitve edge when it's so tough to win."

Is Tyler starting next week?

"Yes, there is no "or" next week. I will tell you that. There is no or," Edsall said.

I chimed in with, "could you at least have told us if he was questionable or probable..something. It would help.

"Well, we don't have any rules in the Big East," Edsall said. "Maybe that's something we can do next year like the ACC, that you have to put out an injury report and until we have to put out an injury report, I'm not going to do that. I think that's our prerogative as a coach to do that. Now, if we have rules within the Big East that tell us that we have to list an injury report and say a guy has a certain thing...I don't think they knew he was going to play. If I put him as probable or anything like that then people get a feel he's going to play. It was a strategic advantage for us not to mention anything that he had the opportunity to play. That's all. And I appreaciate your question, I really do. But I'm not going to change on that."

I followed up with the fact he played all last year and early this season. I didn't get a chance to finish because Edsall knew where I was going but the rest was going to be that Syracuse would have had film on Lorenzen.

"If they wanted to watch him on film they could but if they didn't think he was going to play tonight, they may have done some things differently if they knew he was playing as opposed to him not playing."

Now, Jeff Jacobs asked him if that was why he took it right down to Frazer working with the first team in warmups.

"Yeah, I tried to use every advantage I could to let them know Zach was the starter," Edsall said. "Guys, this is the nature of the business sometimes. It's a competitive nature that's there. I know you don't like it you'd be doing the same darn thing and if I was on your side I'd do the same thing that your doing."

Now to the fans who think the media is blowing this out of proportion go back and read that last line again.

So, I chimed in again, 'Would you be po'd' then if you were on our side?

"I would just look at it from the standpoint there's a coach just trying to do your job to make it better and you're trying to do your job....we're going to agree to disagree. And again, believe me, you think I like doing that? I don't. I think you people know me well enough and what I stand for."

Create Peace,

DC

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8 Comments

Did Jeff Jacobs write your last two blogs? I thought he was the big whiner at the Courant. I think the only thing that UConn fans are frustrated with is the constant whining from the Courant's sports department.

If this is ED's game plan, accept it and let it go. He does not have any obligation to you or any other writers. His obligation is to the fans, the team, and the university. His obligation is to win football games.

I know your job as a reporter is to report the news,however as a 7 year season ticket holder and Uconn grad I could care less knowing who starts at any position let alone quarterback.I would rather you spend time doing stories on game related stories or more stories on individual players.Stop wasting your time and mine on these non issues.

Don't sweat it, Desmond...tough world out there...but as Hawthorne said, "No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which one is true.”
Keep up the good work & The Faith,
GO UCONN!!

He can do what he wants - you're right. I'm not sure Isee where it was pretty smart what he did. If it was, he needs to start thanking us because we're putting this stuff out there for him just like he wants.

And thanks man,
I'm trying to do a good job. I remember saying when I started on this beat that there were going to be things I wrote that you didn't like. All I can say is I told you so - and it won't be the last time.

OK, let me get this straight. You could care less knowing who starts at any position let alone QB?

I'm not buying it Tom.

Anyway, I would love to bring you more stories and while we're on that subject I would love to bring you a lot more right now. You know why? Because it's basketball season and when basketball season starts, football gets pushed to the side in these parts.
I would think there'd be some people in Storrs interested in fighting that but when there's a rift between the media and the head coach, I can tell you right now, you don't exactly feel like going into your sports editor's office to fight for space.
But then, if you're passionate about what you do and you respect the fans and what they want, you try anyway, and I can tell you right now, I've done that these past couple of weeks aplenty. And I'll still do it despite the rift because I respect the fans' interest in UConn Football.

Dez came to Connecticut in 1991 and began covering high schools, then UConn football, the NFL, UConn basketball, Big East football, Big East basketball, national college football, national college basketball, the NBA. He has been a beat writer ... read more